Maggie Hesketh is the executive director at First Day Shoe Fund (FDSF), a vital nonprofit providing new, high-quality, athletic shoes to students in every public elementary school in Kalamazoo County. FDSF has been dedicated to this equity-building, joy-bringing mission since 2006, and their organization has grown exponentially since its inception, thanks in part to financial support from KZCF over the years. In 2023, they received an impact investment loan from KZCF to finance the purchase of their headquarters and build a stable future in Kalamazoo County. We interviewed Maggie to learn about their funding journey, their loan experience and some inspiring community transformations on the horizon.
Understanding the Challenges
Grants make up the overwhelming majority of the funds that FDSF raises, and Maggie does all of their grant writing herself, about 20 to 30 grant applications per year. As a one-woman fundraising machine and FDSF’s only full-time employee, Maggie said that looking for grants is the most time-consuming part of the process, eating up at least 25% of her time. She finds new sources of funding through exhaustive research. “There are many organizations out there quietly funding nonprofit work who aren’t necessarily broadcasting their funding. I’m willing to do a bit of work to find those groups,” she said.
Despite her luck finding granting sources, few are interested in funding infrastructure or capital projects, two things that can prove incredibly useful for a nonprofit’s longevity. Launching a capital campaign is another option to secure funding for such projects, but these campaigns are costly and require tremendous amounts of effort, especially for such a small team.
Deepening the Story
It is a lot of work, but it is for a cause that Maggie believes in strongly. The organization launched in 2006 after FDSF founder Valerie Denghel noticed area school kids wearing flip flops in the winter, shoes with holes, or shoes many sizes beyond fit or comfort. Without the right shoes, a child cannot participate in things like recess, gym or sports. Valerie began buying extra shoes of random sizes and then finding kids who fit them. Despite her efforts, Valerie could not afford to keep up with the increasing amount of kids that needed shoes on her own. That is how FDSF was born.
Maggie acknowledges that their group is about more than just shoes. “Things are hard for kids. They get bullied already for so many reasons, so if we can give them something that makes them feel special, makes them fit in with their peers and boosts their confidence, I don’t see why we shouldn’t do that.”
Impact Investment Journey
Operating out of a former daycare facility which they have rented for years on Meredith Street in Portage, FDSF buys, sorts and distributes thousands of pairs of shoes each year. When their building’s owners expressed a desire to sell this past year, Maggie was forced to choose: Uproot operations and rent elsewhere or buy the building.
Maggie saw the moment as a unique opportunity to secure a forever home with minimal disturbance to their work and team. FDSF received an impact investment loan through KZCF in order to do just that.
“KZCF was certainly easy to work with and moved very quickly to ensure that we could purchase our building before the end of the year, which was necessary to close our deal,” Maggie said.
“Our bank had been willing to lend us the money, but it would have taken us 20 years to pay off their loan. Interest on our loan with KZCF is so much lower that we’ll be able to pay it off in almost half the time! Both parties were so willing to do what was best for us that they just made it happen.”
— Maggie Hesketh | Executive Director of FDSF
Transformation on the Horizon
Owning their building will enable First Day Shoe Fund to make more dreams come true for their organization and kids and families across the community. Upgrades have already begun. As building owners, they were able to add a receiving entrance and loading area for the hundreds of pairs of shoes that were once awkwardly funneled through the front door each day. Extra bathrooms were converted into useful storage areas.
“We’ll be expanding our services to the YWCA next summer. I’m hoping to find a Swahili translator,” Maggie added. FDSF brings translators to fittings for kids that speak languages other than English, some of whom are refugees. The next items on their to-do list include distributing shoes twice a year to all of their schools instead of just some, adding middle schools into the mix and continuing to go beyond schools to serve other community organizations.
“Equity is everything to us. We have families that tell us every year that we’re the only charitable service they qualify for, even though they’re struggling. Because we afford shoes for their kids, that frees up money to buy winter boots, put gas in the car or pay for groceries. People tell us that these shoes are the first new shoes their kids receive, maybe even the only new piece of clothing they get all year. And that’s why we do it. To give kids and their families a positive, memorable, joyful experience.”
‡ Compared to bank options presented * Over the life of the impact investment loan
